Holiday Chess Courses for 6 – 13 year olds
These courses cater for all standards, from beginners through to advanced players.
Coaches:
- Emma-Jane Billington-Phillips, the queen of checkmates, who can make even pawns feel like kings!
- CM Mark Josse, the guy who keeps lessons light and fun!
- Mark Hogarth, a respected figure in the chess community.
- CM Reegan Palmer, our newest coach, helping pupils turn good moves into great ones!
Further Details:
Our holiday chess courses are designed to help children improve their chess in a fun, friendly and challenging environment. Whether your child is a complete beginner or an experienced tournament player, our coaching team will ensure they receive tuition suited to their ability.
Each session runs for three hours, from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
If demand is high, a second afternoon session may be offered from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Most holiday courses run over three consecutive days during the school holidays. Occasionally, such as during the Summer Holidays, we may offer more than one three-day course, allowing pupils to attend up to six days of coaching.
Course Fees
Children are welcome to attend as many or as few days as they wish.
Where multiple holiday courses are available within the same holiday period, bookings can be combined and benefit from our sliding discount scale.
| Number of Days | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 Day | £39.00 |
| 2 Days | £75.00 |
| 3 Days | £105.00 |
| 4 Days | £130.00 |
| 5 Days | £150.00 |
| 6 Days | £170.00 |
We also offer a 20% sibling discount.
Coaching
All courses are led by Emma-Jane Billington-Phillips (EJBP), who oversees the coaching programme and teaches throughout each course.
If numbers are high, pupils will be divided into ability groups to ensure everyone receives coaching appropriate to their playing strength.
- Beginners and developing players will be taught by Emma-Jane Billington-Phillips.
- Stronger players will be taught by one of our other experienced coaches, ensuring all participants receive suitably challenging tuition.
If we feel a pupil would benefit from moving to a different group once the course begins, they can easily transfer to the group that best matches their ability.
Each ability group will have its own tournament, allowing children to compete against players of a similar standard.
To ensure a high-quality learning experience, each coaching group is limited to a maximum of 12 participants per day.
Online Tournament
An online tournament will take place during each course, giving pupils the opportunity to put into practice everything they have learned.
Where participant numbers permit, cash prizes will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place, with additional prizes for 3rd place and other runners-up where appropriate. Prize winners and the number of prizes awarded will depend on the size of the tournament. Any prize money will be paid by bank transfer following the final day of the course.
We look forward to welcoming your child to one of our holiday courses for an enjoyable few days of learning, improving and competing in a friendly online environment.
All courses will take place over zoom.us and during tournament matches players must have their cameras and microphones on so they can be seen and heard. Anybody caught cheating will immediately be disqualified from the tournament and all their games lost.
Holiday Course Dates:
If you would like to book a place on a holiday chess course, then check which dates from those below and if you would like to sign your son(s) and/ or daughter(s) up then email stating which course to:
We will then reply requesting your child(ren)’s details with information on how to make payment.
Once payment is received, we will email you how to join the call. Please book your place in advance.
2026:
- Summer
- 28, 29, 30 July.
- August (TBA).
- October Half Term – 27, 28, 29 October.
- Christmas – 21, 22, 23 December.
2027:
- Easter Holidays – 6, 7, 8, April.
- May Half Term – 25, 26, 27 May.
- Summer
- 28,29,30 July
- August (TBA).